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Topic: Which Jurisdiction to Choose? (Read 11084 times)

New Ortho: I did not chose a jurisdiction, I chose a parish. Ethnically, I am a Serb, yet I overlooked the local Serbian Orthodox Church in favor of the Antiochian Parish. My selection was based on relationships I had within that parish as well their extensive use of English. My trade of was that my daughter will not learn Serbian and the Serbian language; however, I can teach her that. Another reason in my choice was that I live very close (less than 5 min. ) from the AOC. The Serb Church is 45 min away. Despite all of the problems in the AOC today, I know I made the right choice every time my daughter says 'Daddy, I can't wait 'til Sunday."

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Save us o' Son of God, who art risen from the dead, as we sing to thee Alleluia!

New Ortho: I did not chose a jurisdiction, I chose a parish. Ethnically, I am a Serb, yet I overlooked the local Serbian Orthodox Church in favor of the Antiochian Parish. My selection was based on relationships I had within that parish as well their extensive use of English. My trade of was that my daughter will not learn Serbian and the Serbian language; however, I can teach her that. Another reason in my choice was that I live very close (less than 5 min. ) from the AOC. The Serb Church is 45 min away. Despite all of the problems in the AOC today, I know I made the right choice every time my daughter says 'Daddy, I can't wait 'til Sunday."

It makes sense to go to the church that is 5 minutes away. It is the local Orthodox Christian community and going there means you support it and are a member of it. Driving 45 minutes and passing closer churches means a person is only serving his own selfish needs, wasting precious natural resources (gasoline or diesel or ethanol) and not providing his talents and support for his local Christian community.

I used to drive past a Greek Orthodox Church which is on my street about two miles west to attend an AOCONA. I've gone back to the GOA parish and ,because of recent events in the AOCONA am very glad I did!I wish there was an OCA parish here but this little town cannot support two Orthodox Churches. We only have two because there was a problem in the Greek parish and Met.Alexios did not come down here to mediate. I'm very angry about that.There used to be a ROCOR parish near Mobile,Alabama but it has closed since the priest retired.

It makes sense to go to the church that is 5 minutes away. It is the local Orthodox Christian community and going there means you support it and are a member of it. Driving 45 minutes and passing closer churches means a person is only serving his own selfish needs, wasting precious natural resources (gasoline or diesel or ethanol) and not providing his talents and support for his local Christian community.

That settles it then, everyone should join to the closest Orthodox parish to thier home and not think about any other factor.

It makes sense to go to the church that is 5 minutes away. It is the local Orthodox Christian community and going there means you support it and are a member of it. Driving 45 minutes and passing closer churches means a person is only serving his own selfish needs, wasting precious natural resources (gasoline or diesel or ethanol) and not providing his talents and support for his local Christian community.

That settles it then, everyone should join to the closest Orthodox parish to thier home and not think about any other factor.

Please forgive my sarcasm my friend, but I do believe that there are many factors that one should look at besides just distance from your home. Parishes and even jurisdictions have differing ethos and missions. Some parishes are more conservative/liberal in praxis than others. Some are more ethnic minded. Some are more evangelical minded. I for one would drive quite a distance(and do) to belong to a parish that I felt represented the Orthodox Church as I have come to know it. If that parish happens to be 5 minutes away then great! If that parish 5 minutes away does not cut the mustard and one chooses to go to another parish further away, well, that is hardly being selfish. In fact, some would call it a sacrifice. As for as Natural Resources, well if my wallet can handle it I am not going to lose sleep over them.

New Ortho: I did not chose a jurisdiction, I chose a parish. Ethnically, I am a Serb, yet I overlooked the local Serbian Orthodox Church in favor of the Antiochian Parish. My selection was based on relationships I had within that parish as well their extensive use of English. My trade of was that my daughter will not learn Serbian and the Serbian language; however, I can teach her that. Another reason in my choice was that I live very close (less than 5 min. ) from the AOC. The Serb Church is 45 min away. Despite all of the problems in the AOC today, I know I made the right choice every time my daughter says 'Daddy, I can't wait 'til Sunday."

Question how do you like the liturgy in english did it take awhile to get use to it ,i do understand because of your daughter not knowing serbian,i sent several non speaking serbian serbs to the antiochian church because they need to understand whats going on in Holy Liturgy...

I myself never cared for the Holy Liturgy in english,it seems its missing something ..I probably didn't give enough time to aclimate to it...

I do go out of my way not to attend a new calendar greek or other new calendar orthodox church ,, even when one was practically next door to me,i avoided it but not there festivals...

I agree with you Sinner Servant. I would drive past a parish if it was an ethnic club.I would certainly drive past the local Antiochian parish if it was closer than the Greek Orthodox parish as it has a certain"protestant" feel to it that gives me the heebie jeebies.It was also founded by members of the local Greek Orthodox parish who are very angry and that anger is still palatable and not conducive to spiritual growth.

I agree with you Sinner Servant. I would drive past a parish if it was an ethnic club.

I agree. I didn't used to feel that way, but that was when I was spoiled by being relatively close to a multi-ethnic community of welcoming Orthodox parishes. Now considering that I hope a parish will not only be mine, but my future children's (and their children's, and so forth), I do see why it's important to choose a parish that acts as a nourishing community. This is especially true in places where there's no such thing as an Orthodox state religion, because my kids will get no social or material advantages for being Orthodox (in fact, the opposite is more likely). This often means passing by a closer parish.

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Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. ~Philippians 4:8; St Paul